Vehicle-wheel.



N0. 705,|77. Patented July 22, I902.

C. H. WHEELER & F. W. KBEMER.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

(Applicamon filed may 4, 1900. Renewed May 24, 1902.)

(No Model.)

INVENTOR V. M

Einlllllll 5M 7/4/14/ VBY Him ATTORNEYS mmmmmd WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT EET E.

CHARLES H. \VHEELER AND FRANKLIN W. KREMER, OF AKRON, OHIO; SAID I WHEELER ASSIGNOR TO THE INDIA RUBBER COMPANY, OF AKRON,

OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 705,177, dated July 22, 1902. Application filed May 4, 1900. Renewed May 24,1902. Serial No. 108,789. (No model.)

To whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES HNVHEELER, residing at No. 208 Silver street, and FRANK- LIN W. KREMER, residing at No. 100 Rosedale,

Akron, in the county of Summit,State of Ohio,

citizens ofthe'United States, have invented a new and useful Improvement in VehicletYVheels, of which the following is a specifica- The present invention relates to vehicle Wheels and tires.

Primarily the object of the invention is to provide a Wheel and tire particularly adapted for use in connection with comparatively i 5 heavyvehicles, such asautomobiles. Theinvention is not limited, however, to use in connection with automobiles, as it may be found advantageous to use the same in connection with bicycles, tricycles, and similar like constructions. I

The object of the invention is also to provide a vehicle with new and improved means for securing a rubber tire in position on the wheel-rim. To this end instead of making 2 5 the usual channel in a single piece we make the rim of several parts to constitute the channel and provide coacting devices for securing the channel members, rim, and tire together.

In the drawings accompanying this specification we have illustrated constructions embodying the principles of the present invention. While said drawings illustrate constructions which we have actually made and found to be practicable, it will be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise forms shown.

In said drawings, Figure l is a View, partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal central section. Figs. 2 and 3 are views in cross-section.

In said drawings like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views thereof.

Referring to said drawings in detail, and

especiallyto Fig. 1, Adesignates a pneumatic tire; but it will of course be apparent that the invention is not limited to pneumatic tires, as the channel members and the means with meetin lu s 5 extending transversely across the metal rim Z) and fitting in the recesses a of the tire. On each side of the felly is secured one of the two seating and retaining members 0, the outer peripheries of which project beyond the periphery of the rim and constitute with the rim the channel Within which the tire is seated. These members 0 maybe secured in any desired manner, as by bolts 0 It will be understood, of course, that these channel members may be made in sections, if desired.

Oircumferentially extending around the tire at the tread portion thereof (in the case of a pneumatic tire) is a continuous band D, of metal, which constitutes a shoe for the pi1rpose of protecting the tire against puncture, affording a wearing-surface and at the same time coacting with the tire-channel to Withstand the internal air-pressure 0f the tire. This band or shoe D is shown as curved to the circle of the tire and extendinglaterally about one-sixth the circumference of the tire on each side of the central line of the tread. It is provided with the bent-over lips cl and a sound-deadening strip d, which may be of rubber or any suitable material.

The functions of each of the details of c011- struction will be apparent from the following: In assembling the parts one of the members O is first secured to the felly, the tire, with the rings 0, placed in the circum'ferential grooves or, placed on the rim of the wheel from the opposite side, with its recesses 0. engaging the lugs I1 and then forced down upon the member 0. The opposite member 0 is then placed in position. The two members O are then secured together by the bolts 0 and in connection with this it will be understood that the thickness of the base-piece of the tire may be somewhat in excess of the distance between the two members 0 when they are in final position, so as to obtain any desired amount of clamping action. If the tire is a pneumatic tire, the band or shoe D is now placed in position over the-tread portion of the tire and inflated. As the tire is inflated it expands until the outer'shoe or band is friction'ally held in position thereby. The inflation may now go on until the desired cushioning strength of the tire is obtained. The greater the internal air-pressure the stronger the frictional contact between the tire and the band or shoe D. In practice we have depended upon this frictional contact to secure the band D in position; but, if desired, the band D and the outer periphery of the tire may be provided with coacting parts to positively prevent longitudinal motion of said band relatively to the tire. It will be seen that the outer band D and the seating channel members 0 protect the tire fora considerable portion of its circumference, except along the exposed space between the bentover lips c of the channels and the similar lips of the band I). This space permits of the yielding action necessary to obtain the pneumatic cushioning eifect. As an additional safeguard to prevent the unseating of the tire there are shown metal pieces a as secured in the base-piece and extending underneath the independent rings 0.

It will be understood that the rings 0 may be placed in the base of the tire in any manner, as by being laid in an open groove, as shown in the drawings, or by being embedded in the rubber during the process of vulcanization; also, it will be apparent that these rings, as well as the form of rim and channel members, are capable of use with solid tires equally as well as pneumatic tires.

The advantages of our invention will be obvious. By providing the; tire with the recesses a and the rim with the lugs b the tire is prevented from movinglongitudinally rela tively to the rim when the parts are secured together. The channel members 0 positively hold the tire to the rim uniformly throughout each and every portion of its length. The outer band or shoe D forms an absolute preventive of punctures of the tire at the tread portion, constitutes a wearing-piece, takes up and distributes the supporting and driving strains throughout a large portion of the circumference of the wheel, and, acting in conjunction with the extended curved seat of the members 0 and the internal air-pressure of the tire, helps to hold the tire in position. The turned-over lips of the band D, together with the turned-over lips of the members 0,

form a lateral guard for the exposed portion of the tire between them.

Of course we do not by the specific description of the particular embodiment of the in vention illustrated in this application intend to limit the invention thereto, as probably other forms of tiresolid, cushion, or pneumatic-as well as securing parts may be devised without departing from the spirit of the invention.

WVhat is claimed as new is 1. In a vehicle-wheel, the combination of a rim, a tire, two side members secured to the rim, one on each side, and projecting beyond the periphery thereof to form a channel for the tire, an independent ring located in the tire above the base thereof, and transverse rods located in the tire below said ring, substantially as specified.

2. In a vehicle-wheel, the combination of a rim, a tire, two side members secured to the rim, one on each side, and projecting beyond the periphery thereof to form a channel for the tire, independent rings located in the tire above the base thereof, one on each side, and transverse rods located in the tire below said rings, substantially as specified.

In a vehicle-wheel, the combination of a rim, a tire, two side members secured to the rim, one on each side and projecting beyond the periphery thereof to form a channel for the tire, independent rings located in the tire above the base thereof, one on each side, transverse recesses formed in the tire and transverse pieces engaging therewith, substantially as specified.

4. In a vehicle-wheel, the combination of a rim, a tire, two side members secured to the .rim, one on each side and projecting beyond the periphery thereof to form a channel for the tire, independent rings located in the tire above the base thereof, one on each side, transverse rods, the ends of which project beneath the said rings, transverse recesses formed in the base of the tire andtransverse pieces ongaging therewith, substantially as specified.

5. In a vehicle-wheel,the combination of a rim, a tire, a channel composed of two side members secured to the rim, a circumferential groove on each side of the tire, an engaging member seated in each of said grooves, and transverse rods passing through the tire and projecting beneath said engaging member, substantially as specified.

6. In a vehicle-wheel, the combination of a rim, a tire, a channel composed of two side members secured to the rim, a circumferential groove on each side of the tire, a metallic ring seated in each of said grooves, and transverse rods extending across the tire and projecting beneath said rings, substantially as specified.

7. In a vehicle-wheel, the combination of a rim, a tire, side members secured to the rim and projecting beyond the periphery thereof,

one on each side, to constitute a channel, an In Witness whereof we haveherennto signed independent ring, located in a circumfercnour names in the presence of two subscribing to tial groove in each side of the tire, transverse Witnesses.

recesses formed in the tire and transverse CHARLES H. WHEELER. pieces engaging therewith, and transverse I FRANKLIN XV. KREMER. rods, the ends of Which project beneath the l Witnesses:

said engaging pieces, substantially as speci- JESSIE TAGGART,

fied. IDA OSER. 

